What an unexpected delight!

After enduring a string of lackluster romance novels recently, I approached this one with cautious optimism, only to be pleasantly surprised beyond measure.

I was particularly enamored by the refreshing twist on gender roles in romance, where the female character takes on the role of the boss. It's a rarity in the genre, and I found it utterly refreshing.

Yet, amidst this unconventional setup, Ryan's character truly stole the show. His unwavering strength and genuine goodness tugged at my heartstrings throughout the story, leaving me emotionally invested in his journey.

The chemistry between Ryan and Sam crackled with intensity, their connection feeling both organic and irresistible. They complemented each other in such a way that it was impossible not to root for them as individuals and as a couple.

While the romance was undeniably fun and steamy, it also packed a surprising emotional punch, delving into the poignant moments of Ryan's life and the internal struggles faced by both protagonists.

Without a doubt, I'll be singing the praises of this contemporary romance to anyone who will listen.

***I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the publisher for granting me an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

This has my favorite tropes which include one night stand who turns out to be one of the MC's co-worker the next day! This is such a fun read and I really enjoyed the characters journey. Their chemistry is also fantastic. Great read.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Not for me—the voice didn’t hit me, and I was not a fan of the way the lack of body positivity right off the bat.

I found the book overly long and a little repetative. Normally a genre I enjoy but found this to be a bit of a slog.

Kathryn is. New to me author . I enjoyed The New Guy.
Funny and sexy - start to finish this was a good book.

DNF. I love the romance trope of a hookup that then turns out to be the new boss. I’ve read it many times and continue to return for it over and over again - drawn in each time. Unfortunately in this one the execution just didn’t work for me - I’m not feeling drawn in or connected to the characters. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy.

I wanted to really like this. it's very awkward and it makes it seem like the author nor editor ever worked in an office environment because the things that happened after that night were way too extreme and unacceptable. the fade to black moments really killed my enjoyment. just don't add the scenes if that's the case.

Anybody else watch Grey's Anatomy? Just me? Yeah I totally got those vibes. So we have the grieving girl in a bar, Sam and then we have the brooding, grumpy, guy Ryan. Although very different they decide what the hey and have a one night stand just to blow off some steam. They both agree on no info exchange and not to ever talk again. Ah yes, but little did they know that are actually going to be working together.

So while I enjoyed the book, there was some major angst and major issues for both characters. Y'all need to get your act together and not be so in your head. Can we say insecure??? Oh yes. overall I finished the book. I would say 3.5 stars but the writing was good and I did laugh so that pops it up to a 4 for me.

It was a DNF for me within the first 2 pages. I don’t have any interest in seeing if there’s a redeeming moment when the first description of herself sheds a negative light on anyone plus size or even average size.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

3.5 stars

I was really intrigued by the idea of our female heroine being the CEO of the company the male love interest comes to work at. This power dynamic is not often see in romcoms. There is also the trope of sunshine x grump - which is one of my favourites. Overall, it was a fun read but hit middle-of-the-road compared to other romcoms I've read lately.

I really enjoyed this - it was such an easy read and full of sexual chemistry that didn't feel forced! Imagine walking into the office you manage to find that the guy you had a one night stand with has been hired at your new company - well that's exactly what happens to Sam. I really enjoyed the plot of this and I didn't feel like this story was forced in any direction like it sometimes can do! Yes it was kinda cliche and you could see some plot points coming from a mile off but it was still very enjoyable.

Unfortunately I had to purchase a new Kindle device and could no longer access this book. I will come back and review if I read this in the future.

While insta-lust, this is not your stereotypical insta-love story. Sam and Ryan are both equally complicated and diverse characters that had me hooked from early on as their layers were pulled back to reveal who they were.

This book spoke to me on a level that was completely unexpected. The fear and anxiety that surrounds entering into something new after a previous betrayal is intense and often difficult to get around. So I really empathized with Sam at certain parts of the book. That being said, I also wanted to scream at her for not seeing how perfect Ryan was for her. Their connection and my desire to see things play out had me reading as fast as I could, even sneaking pages during my work day.

Overall, I liked it! Normally the girl is the employee and the guy is the boss in a lot of romances, so I was glad to see that troupe flipped on its head!

I didn't necessarily fall in love or relate to either character though, and there were times I wished it was a bit faster pace in the development of their relationship, but the conflicts were sincere and resolved well.

The main character in “The New Guy” is the strong and powerful Sam Huxton. We met her for the first time after the funeral for her grand father, so not in a very good state of mind. She’s at the bar when she meets this really handsome man, she’s giving a go at one-night stands -it’s not her thing, but for that night she doesn’t really care- just one rule: no name, no numbers, just ONE night. Until the next day, when the same guy walks in her office as he is the new guy she hired in her company.

Unfortunately this took ages to read... I found this very repetitive

The characters sadly have no chemistry, making the story very unbelievable.

It started off very easy and exciting, then become a dull, repetitive, long long read.

This is a brilliant cosy read and i really enjoyed it. It was fresh and witty and it was a great escape book. Loved the characters as well.

The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman is a cute rom-com novel, it is quite enjoyable and cute. I would recommend it and read it again.